Page 10 of His to Honor

“Why hang around then?” I ask. “You’d be safer back in the States.”

He raises an eyebrow because, naturally, he doesn’t give a damn about his own safety.

“You want to stay here and wipe them all out?”

“I already did. Well, most of them.”

Of course he did. They came after him, and an innocent girl was caught in the crossfire. Matteo isn’t the type to allow that to go unpunished.

“So, why would I be in danger?” I consider the situation for a moment. “Ah, the girl’s family. You think they’ll try to avenge her death?”

He shrugs and I shake my head in despair. “You know, Matteo, not everyone meets violence with violence.”

“When have you ever known anyone to turn the other cheek?”

I’m mildly pissed that he has a point. In the circles we move in, honor is everything and even petty slights attract retribution. If any of the women in the Volante family were killed like that, blood would definitely be spilled. The girl’s family probably doesn’t operate that way, but I can tell that argument won’t work on Matteo.

“So why are you sitting here waiting for them to come at you?” I demand. “Don’t you think it would be better for everyone if you came home?”

Again, he answers me with an infuriatingly lazy lift of his shoulder.

“Fine.” I take a long sip of my coffee. It’s so good. Rich and smooth, just the way I like it. “But if you stay, so do I.”

Matteo heaves out a breath like he’s some poor, long-suffering parent, burdened with a problem child. “If you insist on staying, you will abide by my rules.”

Oh, this will be good. I can barely keep the amusement off my face as I turn on my seat to give him my full attention. “Okay, what rules?”

“You are not to disturb me when I’m in my bedroom, the office, or when I’m in the pool.”

“There’s a pool?”

Matteo treats me to a stern glare for interrupting. He seems to have forgotten after years of friendship, I know how to push his buttons. “Yes, there’s a pool and I like to swim alone.”

“Since when?”

“What?” I don’t know if he didn’t hear me or if he’s in disbelief that I dare to question him.

“Since when do you like to swim alone? You and I have often messed about together in the pool.”

He treats me to a derisive snort that makes me want to slap him. “Since we grew up, Giulia.”

I don’t remind him we’ve used the pool at his apartment building several times since we reached adulthood. He’s obviously got a bug up his ass about this and simple facts won’t dislodge it, so I leave the subject alone.

“Okay, no intruding on your quiet time. What else?”

“You will not report back to Antonio on every little thing that happens here.”

“I’ve got no intention of speaking to your big brother.”

“Or any other member of my family.” Matteo takes a sip of his coffee as if fortifying himself and then continues. “You willdo what I say when I say it and you will not leave the house unescorted.”

“Okay, I can agree to that.” Shoving back my chair, I get to my feet. “So, I’m going to get dressed. I suggest you do the same. I want to head out in an hour.”

“Head out?” Matteo sounds adorably confused. “Head out where?”

“Florence. I want to visit the Uffizi, maybe some other sites.”

Matteo groans. “Fuck, no. Those places are tourist traps.”

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